First accumulation of snow this season hits the area

A man uses his umbrella to protect herself from the mixture of rain and snow as he crosses Ashland Ave. at North Ave. in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

The .4 inches of snow that the National Weather Service recorded today at O’Hare accounted for the season’s first accumulation of snow and it came early.

On average, the first day of recorded snowfall is around Nov. 16, said meteorologist Charles Mott making today’s precipitation five days early.

Tomorrow’s forecast low temperature of 24 is also 11 degrees below normal for Nov. 12, Mott said. The high is forecast to be 33.

While colder than average, the record low recorded for Nov. 12 is 8 degrees, Mott said.

Snow was reported along the Illinois-Wisconsin state line around 1 p.m. and had hit downtown Chicago around 3:30 p.m. While sticking on grassy areas, the snow was likely to melt or become slushy on most paved surfaces, according to the Chicago Weather Center.

Snow was expected to be diminishing and ending in most areas by early evening, except over northwest Indiana where several inches of snow were expected to fall. Roads were expected to be wet, although some streets could become slick in spots during the evening rush, the weather center warned.

According to the National Weather Service, about 1.7 inches of snow fell in one Lake County location, with about .5 inches falling in northwest suburban Marengo, .4 inches in west suburban Elburn, and .3 inches in north suburban Beach Park.

The agency has also issued a lake effect snow warning until 1 p.m. Tuesday for Berrien County in southwest Michigan and La Porte and St. Joseph counties in northwest Indiana and a lake effect snow advisory until noon Tuesday for Porter County in northwest Indiana.